Switch for electric lamps



June 16, 1931. F. E. JOHNSON 1,810,480

I SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Aug. 24, 1928 6 1;; W y iqmaam MW; H/forneV 'ING, 11m, or New .An additional ob]ect is to sat . Patented June is, "1931 l PATENT 930mm FRANK E. JOHNSON, on NEW nnrortn, ivinssncnusn'rrsnssrenon To oHiv I. PAULD- SETTS.

This invention relates to switches for electric lamps and is exemplifiedin a switch adapted to be operated by a push button;

The principal object of the invention is theprovision of an efficient and,- durable switch tion.

'Another sure a more objecfiof-the invention is to in- 7' l theswitch is closed.

A further object of the invention-is the provision of simple means for mounting the f push through switch member toprevent.

looseness after long wear.

provide aconstruction in whichthe various parts may be made. from ribbon material 'th' reby reducing the cost ofconstruction. y I

Other objects ofthe invention will be more 21; specifically pointed out and described here} inafter. r In its preferred embodiment contemplates a switch comprising a pivotally' mounted movable member adapted for 1 closing or opening the lampv circuit when thrown into or out of engagement with a fixedcontact. The movable member 'is moved from one position to the other by a spring under compression having one end bearing on saidmember and the other end connected to a push-buttonmembjer in an oflfcenter re lation to said movable member. 7 The operationof the push button member moves itsend of the spring from one-sideof the movable ,3 member totheother' side thereof thereby throwingthe movable member in a direction reverse to the movement ;to the end of the i 7 spring. In the illustrative embodiment'of the inventionhereinafter described, ;a pushthrough member is mountedforlongitudinal reciprocation to throw the spring in one direction or the other'for'operating the m'ov-. able memberto closeor openthe lamp cir; cu'it."'j One of theimportantfeatures of my invention resides in a construction in whichjthe closing of the. switch effects a {sliding contact between flat surfaces over a relatively 7 large area indistinction to acontact between edges with the result that the electrical conofflimproved and economical construerie'd by aU-shaped yoke support having in its perfectelectrical contact when my invention necessary.

' of construction and enables Application filed August e4, 1928. seen "no. 301,715

arcing is diminished.- I

Another important "feature of the inven-. tion relates to the method :of mounting the push-through switch member which actuates' the sv'vitchgaPreferably this member 'is cartact is farmore eflicient and complete and 1,8ia48e BEIDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS; A CORPORATION or MASSACHUI I and the push-through member is made in the for-m 'of a flat bar having end push-buttons mounted thereon. This constructionpermits thepush button bar to be mountedin the yoke through the open ends of the recesses and then V turhedto rest on the bottom of the recesses and is held in thatposition byfthe overhangmg parts of the two upright ends of the yoke. andby the actuating sp'ring'for the movable member. 'As a result of this construction, the

push-through slide member will never work loose irrespective of the length of use to which the switch is subjected and yet it can be very easily removed from the yoke member when Another important feature of my invention r'esidesin economyof construction. Allthe parts of the switch except the fixed contact may be stamped out of ribbon "material andare what is known as one-operation parts.

The contactisa two-operation part requiring first, stamping out-:of thin-sheet material and second,-be1 1din g. .This conduces to economy the'switch to be made ata very low cost. I

. In'the drawings illustrating :one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1:is aside elevation on an enlarged scale of an electriclamp socket-having a switch constructed and adapt:

ed to be operated in accordance 'withimy in- 1 'ventionythe shell of the socket being partially cut away to expose the switch mechanism which is shown :in open'positionrFig -2 is a verticalcentral sectionalview also on-an enlarged-scale on line 122 in Fig. 1 look ng from right to leit but with the switch closed F 1g. 3'1sa plan view of the-socket on areduced scale looking downwardly -Fig.1; F 1g. 4 193) cross-sectional viewalso oniareduced scale-on line 4L-4 in Fig. llo'oking downward- 1y; Fig. 5is abottom plan iew on the same "scale; Fig. 6 1s a side elevat on partly insection of the switch mechanism; Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the switch frame; Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the contact; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the switch frame Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one form of standard and Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of the pivot plate.

Referring to the drawings showing an electric lamp socket containing one embodiment of the invention by way of'illustration, 1 0 inof the standards. The screws 20 and 24 also serve to fasten the threaded lamp socket 26 of usual form to the outer face of the block 12.

The standards 14 and 16 are provided with binding screws 28 and 30 respectively for holding the ends of conductors 32 and 34 respectively and the upper block is suitably recessed at 36 and 38 to permit the conductors to be led out. To secure compactness and to facilitate attachment ofthe wires, the bindi-ng'screw portions of the standards are offset and are bent inwardiy to form in each case a seat for the binding screw with adjacent shoulders to hold the wires under the binding screw and against detachment therefrom.

The switch for controlling'the lamp circuit comprises a movable contact 40 in the form of a breaker bar adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with a fixed con tact 41 by the operation. of a spring 42, through the manipulation of a push-through member 48. The fixed contact 41 is con nected by a neck 44 to a butt 45 provided with a central hole 46 whereby it may be mounted on the screw 18 and secured in position between the upper end of the standard 14 and the inner face of the block'lO. When thus fastened the contact 41'is in aposition between the two standards to be engaged by the breaker bar 40. The latter is U-shaped and is pivotally mounted at its two bored ends on two ears 48 .on a pivot plate 49 set in -a central square recess formed in the U-shaped yoke which in turn sets on the inner face of the block 12. wardly from the plate and then outwardly to pivot the breaker bar above the plate. A

rivet 50 through the block 12 holds the pivot plate in position and also holds a central contact 51 on the outer face of said block in position to be engaged by the butt end of the lamp inserted in the socket 263, said contact 51' being insulated from the said socket by a'surrounding ridge 52 formed on the outer face of the block 12.

For supporting the puslrthrough mem- Phe ears are first turned 1110- ber 43, a rectangular frame 54, substantially U-shaped in form, is set in a rectangular recess in the inner face of the lower block 12 with its two ends projecting upwardly and having each an 'L-shaped open recess 55, which permits the member 43 to be inserted edgewisetherein and then turned to lie .on the bottom edges 56 of the recesses. The overhanging portion 57 lo k th pu -thr ug member in plac but do not prevent it being Withdrawn from'the frame when necessary. The push-through member 43 is preferably in the form of a flat bar having its two ends bent into an offset relation ,to the main body thereof and provided with push buttons 58 and 59, the former of which may be colored'rcd to denote the end to be pushed in to close the circuit and light the lamp and the latter colo'red black for opening the circuit.

The frame 54 is held fastenedto the lower block 12 by the rivet 50, the base of the frame being depressed in its center portion to fit under the pivot plate and being bored to receive the shank of the rivet. The recess in the lower block is formed to receive the frame and consequently both the frame and the square pivot, plate are firmly locked against movement in any direction by the riyet which conduces to economy of manufacture.

For throwing over the breaker bar when the push-through member is reciprocatcd, thespring 42 is n'iounted on a slide member 60 having its lower Q1' 1(l-f0 l-l(l-l.0 pivotally engage a iii-0351);? r v 61 fer-med centrally in the push-through member by ci itting out portions thereof. The upper end of the slide member projects loosely through an opening in the top of the breaker Being under partial compressionthe spring abutting at one end the top of the breaker bar and at its other end the shoulders of the forked portion of the slide holds-it in pivotal engagement with the cross-bar 61 and since the push through member is always at one. end or the other of its path Of reciprocation, the lower ends of the slide member and the spring are in an off center relationto the breaker bar. The-result is that when'the push-through member is moved from one end of its path to theother end, the lower end of the slide meniber'is moved also further compressing the spring and throwing the breaker bar in the opposite directioir'as soon as it passes the center thereof.- :In order that the upright ends of the frame 54 may serveas stops'to limit the movement of the breaker bar in both directions. the base of theframe isccntrally restricted in width-(Fig. 7) to correspond to the width of the pivot plate so that the The fixture hereinbefore described is in practice enclosed in a. shell'70 and cap 71 of well-known construction, the fixture being placed in the shell in assembled condition and as a unitary structure. This is generally done by first passing the conductors through erally interposed between the metal shell 70 and the fixture to prevent short circuits.

The operation of my switch is as follows: Assuming the-positive wire to be that designated 32, the current when the switch is closed flows from said Wire through standard 14, contactbutt 45, contactel, breakerbar 40, pivot plate 49, rivet 50, central contact 51,

lamp filament (not shown),-lamp socket 26,

screw 24, standard 16 and negative wire 34:. To prevent short circuiting through the screw 20 and socket 26, the latter is cut away around the head of the former anda washer 7 6 of m sulating material is interposed between the 'two. When the breaker bar is separated from the fixed contact and the; lamp goes out.

The opening and closing of the circuit by the circuit is broken the switch is accomplished by pushing in that end of the push-through member which is on termost, the red push-button, if it is desired to turn the light on or the black push-button. for turning the light off; When the pushthrough member is thus operated, the spring slide is carried over the center compressing the spring and as soon as it passes over the center of the breaker bar the latter isthrown by a rapid movement in a direction opposite to the movement of the push-through memher. The contact thusmade or broken with the -fixed contact plate is rapidly effected. The fixed contact is so adjusted that it hangs somewhat lower when the circuit is open so that the breaker bar in closing thecircuit first strikes the turnedup points of the coni tact and'pushes it slightly upwardly as it This.

slides over to makethe full contact. insures'an efliclent sl1d1n g contact over a relatively large area. The end of the slide mem-.

ber projecting through the top of the breaker bar 1s accommodated by the central recessoft-he contact. By providing a rapid sliding contact arcing is diminished.

- It will be observed that my switch is ex .tremely simple in construction and operation, embodiesfewparts and is very durable The push-through member and the frame in which it moves are of "suchform' that there is no possibility of these parts becoming loose or inoperative after long use. The offset ends of the push-through member act as stops to limit its reciprocation in both. directions.

Another advantage of my invention is that a switch constructed in "accordance with the invention can'be made at a low cost for parts and forassembling. The central rivet fastens the three parts in" position, the frame, the pivot plate and central lamp contact and the parts ofthe switch may be put together rapidly without requiring manipulation of fastening means. The two insulating blocks andflamp socket are fastened in assembled relation by four screws. -It will be apparent that the assembling of lamp sockets asthus constructed is a simple matter, which maybe accomplished rapidly. f I

Although I have described my invention as exemplified in a-switch for lamp sockets I do not desire to be restricted to that particular use since my invention may be utilizedfor switches generally or for other particular uses. that my invention is not to be limited to that form herein 'shownanddescribed since. it is obviously capable of embodiments in otherv Furthermore, it is to be understood.

forms of construction which would. be apparent to one skilled inthe art and within purview of the following claims.

lVhatI clainiis: L '1. A switch having, in combination, a fixed contact, a U-shaped frame havingv its upwardly turned ends each provided with a the rigl'it-angled recess opening out the topside thereof, a push through member slidably mounted in said recesses and'held against lateral movement by'the sides thereof, said member having itsends otl'set to act as stops by engagement with the upwardly turned.

opening out the top side thereof, ,a" pushthrough member in the form of a flat bar slidablymounted in 'and'held againstlateral movementbyssaid recesses and havingits two ends offset tolimit the reciprocation of said member by engagement wlth the turned ends said frame, a movable contact and aspring actuated bysaid push-through member for throwing said movable contact into and out of engagement with saidfixed cont-act; said recesses each being slightly enlarged at the inner angle portion'thereof to permit said push-through member to be'mounted'in and removed from said recesses. I

V 3. A switch having, in combination, a fixed contact, a U-shaped frame having .its up wardiy, turned ends each provided with a right angled recess opening out the. top side thereof a aush-throueh member shdabl mounted in said recesses and held against lateral movement by the sides thereof said member 1 eving its ends offset to act as stops by engagement with the upwardly turned 5 ends of said frame to limit the reciprocation of member, the offset ends iherem being 1 rovided with push buttons, a breaker bar pivoteuy mounted ceni'rally said frame 21m streddline said member and a. uring oper- 19 at ifrby szn.1push'ibrougbmember forthrowing said breaker bar into and out 0% engagement with said fixed Contact to open and to close a circuit.

A switch havin in combination, a fixed 1 1 con'aiset a H s raped frame having its upr-ierdly turned. ends eacb provided with an L-shaped recess opening out the top side thereof, a push-through member slidebly =ed in said recesses and held against movement therein, said recesses being: "bfly enlarged at the angle pomion thereof "to permit said member to be mounted therein or removed ibere'frem by e. slight turning movement, a mevabie cont; e: and spring wins-led by said push-through member fer (brewing said movable Contact into and out of: engagement with said fixed Contact.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my rend this twenty-thin day of August, 1928. JHANK E. JOHNSON. 

